**Cardiff’s Iconic Golden Cross Pub Faces Uncertain Future Amid Changing Times**
Nestled in the heart of Cardiff’s modern cityscape, shadowed by gleaming hotels and shopping centres, stands The Golden Cross, one of Wales’ most cherished and historic pubs. With roots stretching back to 1863, this Grade II-listed building has etched out a unique position as Wales’ oldest gay bar, emerging as both a cornerstone for the LGBTQ+ community and a bastion of Cardiff’s local heritage. However, after weathering decades of transformation and adversity, The Golden Cross now finds itself at a perilous crossroads, its continued survival hanging in the balance.
The Golden Cross, with its distinctive L-shaped ceramic bar – one of only 14 such counters left in the UK – is instantly recognisable. Its walls are adorned with sparkling portraits of Welsh icons like Ian H Watkins, Gareth Thomas, and Tom Jones, adding an element of glamour to the venue’s quirky and nostalgic atmosphere. At its heart, the pub is famed for its vibrant drag cabaret, a spirited Friday and Saturday night tradition led by the likes of Amber Dextrous and Dr Bev, rivalling any performances found on the continent.
The pub’s custodian, Rob Burnett, has helmed the Golden Cross for nearly a decade, often investing his own resources to keep the doors open. “After the pandemic, so many people said coming back felt like coming home,” he reflected, emphasising the crucial sense of community the venue provides, especially during events such as Pride Cymru, the city’s largest queer celebration. The Golden, as it is affectionately known, serves as a rare space of acceptance for Cardiff’s LGBTQ+ population, bridging generations from couples together for over six decades to young people searching for a safe haven.
Rob’s personal journey is woven tightly with that of the pub. Originally from Portsmouth and with a background in transport and cleaning businesses, Rob stumbled into stewardship of the Golden Cross unexpectedly. “It was an old man’s pub on the brink,” he recalls, describing the apprehension and hope from both local regulars and the wider LGBTQ+ community when news broke that the venue would be saved. His decade in charge has seen the pub transformed into a bustling, inclusive space, yet he remains candid about the mounting challenges it faces.
Now, a visible countdown to closure above the bar underscores the gravity of the current situation. Rob is searching for a successor to carry the Golden’s legacy forward, but admits that the realities of running an independent pub have never been more daunting. Rising costs, shifting drinking habits among younger patrons, and the broader pressures on the hospitality sector have taken their toll. “People just aren’t coming out as often,” says Rob. “We’ve seen regulars cut down from several nights a week to just once, if at all. Running the entertainment needed to keep crowds coming is expensive – cut that, and the vibrancy vanishes.”
One prominent shift is the decline of alcohol consumption among the younger crowd, with many seeking non-alcoholic options or just a glass of water. The Golden has broadened its offerings in direct response, but the pub’s identity as a late-night haven faces competition from fast-growing café culture and alternative forms of socialising. This speaks to a wider trend affecting traditional pubs nationwide, with community venues fighting to retain relevance in fast-changing cities.
Rob’s own story is deeply entwined with Cardiff’s LGBTQ+ fabric. Having bravely come out in his late twenties, leaving behind a traditional family structure in Scotland, he has served as a quasi-parental figure for many who have found support at the Golden. “You can’t be a shrinking violet in this role,” he affirms. “More than ever, we need spaces where people can be unapologetically themselves, especially with the challenges faced by the trans community and ongoing debates around inclusivity.”
The idea of LGBTQ+ venues has evolved over the years, with some embracing broader inclusivity and others retaining a more exclusive ethos. Rob believes firmly in an open-door approach, welcoming straight allies and fostering a genuine community spirit. “We have plenty of straight couples who come in and call this their home too. True community includes everyone who cares and supports each other.”
As this weekend’s Pride festivities approach, the Golden Cross will again come alive in a riot of celebration – but shadowed by the uncertainty of its fate. The story of the Golden Cross, much like that of Cardiff itself, is one of resilience and transformation. Whether it will survive to create new chapters depends on whether someone with sufficient vision and passion will step forward to see it through the next era.
What’s clear is that the potential loss of the Golden Cross would leave a void not just in the LGBTQ+ landscape, but in the cultural and social tapestry of Cardiff itself. Its story underlines the enduring importance of safe, affirming local spaces in an ever-evolving city.